Clothes hanging arrangement



Aug. 29, 1961 c. H. REED 2,998,142

CLOTHES HANGING ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ. F1612.

INVENTOR CHARLES H. REED ATTORNEYS 1961 c. H. REED 2,998,142

CLOTHES HANGING ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CHARLES H. RE ED ATTORNEYS 1961 c. H. REED 2,998,142

CLOTHES HANGING ARRANGEMENT Filed Jan. 13, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR CHARLE S H, REED ATTORNEYS Maw, MW

12 Claims. (Cl. 211-113) This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 750,433, filed July 23, 1958, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to clothes hanging arrangements and devices.

As is well known, conventional clothes hangers are commonly provided with a stem portion having a curved or hooked end adapted to be fitted about a pole or rod, such as a closet pole, for suspending the clothes on the hanger in a vertical position. Such hangers are typically constructed of wood, metal or plastic or combinations thereof and due to the amount of clearance usually present between the hooked end and the closet pole, there is an undue amount of lateral movement or twist permitted which may prevent the garment from hanging in the desired position, as well as presenting other difficultiesin connection with the positioning of other clothes on other hangers on the same pole.

Furthermore, conventional clothes hangers of the type described have been found to be undesirable in commercial establishments, particularly hotels or motels, due to the fact that they are apt to be stolen by patrons since they may readily be used in the home.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide a novel structural arrangement designed to facilitate the hanging of clothes in desired position and particularly adapted to be advantageously utilized in commercial establishments, such as hotels or motels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structural arrangement of clothes hanger and hook plate specifically designed for use in combination with a pole or rod, such as the conventional closet pole, and capable of preventing undesirable movements, such as twisting, of the clothes hanger.

A further and somewhat more specific object resides in the provision of unique hook plate or hanger ring structures adapted to be securely and slidably attached to a closet pole or the like and especially adapted to be used in combination with a clothes hanger also of special design whereby the clothes hanger is only usable with the hook plate and vice versa. In this way, theft of such clothes hangers will be discouraged since they would be virtually useless without the hook plate, the latter not being adapted to be readily removed from the closet pole.

Still further objects reside in the provision of novel' clothes hanger constructions particularly suitable for use in connection with hook plates, of the type referred to. In one embodiment, the clothes hanger is designed to support a multiplicity of garments in desired position and in a minimum of space.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a plate or hanger ring is provided having an opening therein adapted to be slidably mounted on a closet rod or the like, with such rod extending through the opening, and with a bifurcated and upturned end being provided at the lower portion of the plate to form a slotted hook for receiving an enlarged end of a clothes hanger stem. The invention also contemplates the provision of a clothes hanger having an upwardly extending stern designed with an enlarged upper head portion particularly shaped for engagement in the slot at the bifurcated end of the hook plate. In some embodiments, the hook plates or hanger rings are constructed as a two-part structure in order to facilitate mounting on the closet pole, as will be described in detail hereinbelow.

In a specific embodiment of the clothes hanger, there Patented Aug. 29, 1961 are provided a plurality of supporting rods extending downwardly from the stem for connection to a clothesengaging and supporting portion of generally serpentine outline, whereby the structure forming the serpentine outline is capable of supportingly engaging a plurality of garments.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The novel features of the invention may be best made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a hooked plate embodying the invention and shown in mounted position on a closet pole or the like, the latter being shown in transverse section;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIGURE 1, with the closet pole being shown fragmentarily, and with the upper stem portion of a clothes hanger of the invention being shown in engagement with the hooked plate;

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1, with the closet pole omitted, and showing the manner of engagement of a clothes hanger of the invention to the hooked plate;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the plate of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the plate of FIGURE 4 and shown in operative position on a closet pole, the latter being shown fragmentan'ly;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of clothes hanger of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the clothes hanger of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hanger of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of a further modification of the hook plate of FIGURE 1 and in unassembled position relative to a closet pole;

FIGURE 10 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 9 and showing the hook plate thereof in a partially assembled position around the closet pole;

FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 9 and showing the hook plate thereof in its final assembled position around the closet pole;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken generally along line 1212 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURES 13 and 14 are elevational views of a still further modification of the hook plate of FIGURE 1 and respectively showing the hook plate in partially and completely assembled positions.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURES 13, there is shown a hooked plate 20 constituting oneembodiment of the invention and adapted to be slidably mounted on a pole or rod 22. The plate 20 maybe constructed of any suitable material, such as metaLand as shown in FIGURE 1, it is formed with a generally circular opening '24 therein. The plate 2%) is mounted on the pole 22 with the latter extending through this opening 24 which is preferably of somewhat larger size than the transverse dimension of the pole 22, as indicated, Wherebythe plate 20 may be readily slid or moved along the pole. As will be understood, the pole 22 represents anyconventional clothes supporting member, such as the type conventionally found in closets and supported at either or both ends and/or any desirable point or points along its length.

In order to permit initial mounting of the plate 20 on a previously installed pole 22 supported at both ends, the plate 20 may be divided into upper 26 and lower 28 sections, adapted to be assembled around the pole 22 and connected together, as by rivets 30, in the manner indicated in the drawing. It will be appreciated that in the end 48 on the bight region of the hook 32. assembling the hanger 38 on the plate 20, the enlarged 3 some cases the plate 20 may be of integralconstruction, if desired.

The bottom of the plate 20 is turned upwardly and bifurcated to provide a hook 32, with a slot 34 being defined therein for a purpose to become apparent as the description proceeds. The upper part of the slot 34 is enlarged, such as in the form of the head of a T as indicated by the numeral 36, also for a purpose to become apparent as the description proceeds.

FIGURE 3 illustrates fragmentarily one form of clothes hanger adapted to be used with the hook of FIGURES 1-3. This hanger 38 includes the usual diverging shoulder portions 40, 42 suitably joined together at their inner ends, with a stem 44 extending upwardly therethrough, as shown. The stem 44 preferably includes barbs 46 in engagement with the portions 40,

42 to prevent twisting between the stem 44 and portions 40, 42. The lower end of the stem 44 may be enlarged, as shown, and engaged to the undersurface of the portions 40, 42, 'while the upper end 48 of the stem is also enlarged, as indicated.

The size and shape of'the stem 44 and the enlarged upper end 48 thereof are designed so as to be fitted into the slot 34, 36 in the plate 20 for disposition of In stem end 48 of the hanger may be inserted through the upper end 36 of the slot 34 (from the left in FIGURE 2 toward the right) with the plane of the hanger in a generally horizontal position. After the enlarged end 48 has passed through the upper end 36 of the slot 34, the hanger 38 may then be permitted to move downwardly and turn into a generally upright position with the enlargedhead 48 resting on the bight of the hook 32, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

It will be understood that any desirable number of plates 20 combined with hangers 38 may be utilized on the pole 22, depending on the number of garments to be hung.

It will be appreciated that the plate 20 and hanger 38 of the invention may be advantageously utilized in commercial establishments, such as hotels or motels, where it is desired to prevent any financial losses as might be incurred by reason of theft of coat hangers by patrons. The coat hanger 38, due to the design of the stem 44, would be of no use apart from the plate 20. Since the hangers 38 are thus of such limited use, and since the plates 20 cannot be removed from the pole 22, the hangers 38, by themselves, would be useless to patrons in their homes, and thefts thereof would consequently be discouraged.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the enlarged stem end 48 will be disposed in supported position within the hook 32 of the plate 20 with a minimum of lateral clearance between this end and the adjacent surfaces of the hook. By virtue of this feature, and the provision of the barbs 46, twisting or turning of the mounted clothes hanger 38 will be effectively prevented.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a modification of the plate 20 of FIGURES 1-3 and wherein similar reference numerals have been used to identify similar parts. In this modification, the plate 20' is shown as an integral structure provided with upper and lower curved lip portions 50, 52, respectively, extending in opposite directions from opening 24 and adapted to be engaged to the cylindrical'clothes rod 22, as indicated in FIGURE 5. These portions 50, 52 serve to minimize any twisting or tilting of the plate 20 relative to the rod 22. Similar portions may be formed on the plate 20 of FIGURES 1-3, if desired, for the same purpose. And, plate 20' may be divided into upper and lower sections as was the case with plate 20, if preferred.

The slot 34 at the hooked end 32' of the plate 20' is shown in the-form of a keyhole-shaped slot with the upper portion 36' thereof adapted to receive the hanger "4 stem end 48 in the same manner as that described in connection with the portion 36 of the slot in plate 20. Furthermore, and as is evident, plates 20, 20' may be formed with either type of slot.

Another embodiment of clothes hanger adapted to be utilized with the plates of FIGURES l5 is illustrated in FIGURES 6-8. As there shown, this hanger 38 is constructed of a clothes engaging portion of generally serpentine outline including any desirable number of clothes receiving grooves or spaces, such as the four spaces 54, 56, 58, 60, defined between bar portions 62, 64, 66, 68, 70. The clothes engaging portion may be formed of any desirable material and in any appropriate manner. For example, it may be formed of a deformable metal bar shaped by some appropriate tool or by hand into the outline shown, wherein the bar portions 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 lie substantially in a single or common plane and define uniform peaks and valleys on either side of their longitudinal center line 72.

As best seen in FIGURE 6, a plurality of upwardly extending rods 74 are connected at their lower ends to bar portions of the serpentine outline, converging upwardly at their upper ends for connection to a stem portion 76 provided with an enlarged head 78. In the illustrative embodiment, two rods 74 are shown connected generally at right angles to each of the outer bar portions 62, 70 in uniform or symmetrical relation with respect to the center line 72. It will be appreciated that, if desired, more than two of these rods 74 may be arranged on the outer bar portions 62, 70.

The rods 74 and stem 76 may be made of metal or any other suitable material, appropriately connected together, as by welding. The rods 74 may likewise be connected to the barportions 62, 70 by welding or in any other convenient manner.

In supporting the hanger 38' of FIGURES 68 in the plates 20 or 20' of FIGURES 1-5, it should be apparent that the same procedure as that heretofore described in connection with the hanger 38 of FIGURE 3 may be followed. In other words, the hanger 38 may be arranged in position by inserting the enlarged head 78 of the stem 7 6 horizontally through the enlarged upper end 36 or 36' of the slot 34 or 34' (from left to right in FIGURE 2), after which the hanger will be permitted to drop and turn to a vertical position for support within the bifurcated hooked end 32 or 32' of the plate, such as in the manner indicated in FIGURE 2. The hanger 38 of FIGURES 6-8 will be of special utility for supporting a plurality of garments such as trousers, skirts, sport shorts or the like, within the spaces 54, 56, 58, 60, while occupying a minimum of space.

The particular arrangment of the plurality of rods 74 in generally uniform or symmetrical relation to the longi tudinal center line or axis 72 of the bar portions 62, 64, 66, 68, 70 will provide desirable stability of the hanger 38 when suspended from the plate 20 or 20, irrespective of the number of garments that may be carried thereby and whether or not such garments are uniformly distributed on either side of the center line 72. The nontwisting feature of the enlarged upper head of the hanger stem in the lower hooked end of the plate 20 or 20', previously explained, will also contribute to the stability of the hanger 38' when the latter is suspended from the plate in the manner described.

Referring again to the plates 20, 20', it will be evident that the upper ends 36 and 36 of the slots 34, 34, respectively, may be omitted, with the hanger stems 44 or 76 extending upwardly a greater distance whereby the hangers 38, 38' may be mounted in the plates 20, 20" by first inserting the upwardly projecting portion of the hanger stem through the space between the bifurcated hook ends (from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 2), the hanger being upright with the enlarged end 48 or 78 disposed above the hooked plate end, and then letting the hanger move downwardly so that the enlarged upper end thereof will enter and seat in the hook 32 or 32 as indicated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 9-14 illustrate further modifications of the hook plate or hanger ring of FIGURE 1 and wherein similar reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts.

In FIGURES 9l2 the hanger ring 20a is shown as being made of two parts, top part 26a and bottom part 280:, adapted to be removably connected together, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter, to define an opening 24a. The lower part 28a is shown as including the hooked end 32a defining a slot 34a for the reception of a hanger stem such as in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 3. A hole 80 may be formed in this part whereby the hooked upper end of a conventional clothes hanger may be inserted therethrough, if desired. Part 28a may be constructed of any appropriate material, such as metal, and is shown as including a notch 82 at the opposite upper ends thereof.

Part 26a is shown as being of arcuate configuration, channel-shaped in transverse cross-section (see FIGURE 12) and including a lug or hook 84 at the lower opposite ends thereof. This part preferably is made of a suitable spring material, such as metal, whereby it will be stiff or rigid yet somewhat resilient or springy.

In assemblying parts 26a, 28a about a closet pole 22, one of the lugs 84 of part 26a will be engaged in a notch 82 of part 28a, as indicated in FIGURE 10, thereby providing a pivot connection at this end so that the op posite or free ends of these parts may then be swung together. During this final step, the free end of part 26a will be deformed radially outwardly as the lug 84 slides down the adjacent free end of part 28a until the lug 84 reaches notch 82 at which time the lug will be sprung into the notch, as indicated in FIGURE 11. It will be appreciated that part 26a be of such size and spring characteristics as to effectuate this snap engagement under spring action between the lug and notch in the final locking step in the assembling operation. The lugs 84 will thus be securely, yet removably, retained in the notches 82 and the parts 26a, 28a may be readily and conveniently assembled or disassembled by those knowing the nature of their construction and the type of connection therebetween.

FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrate a hanger ring 2% formed of two parts 26b, 28b in much the same manner as the corresponding parts of hanger ring 20. Part 2812, however, is shown as including an opening 80" therein similar to the corresponding hole 80 formed in ring 20a. It will be understood that, if desired, rings 20a, 20b may include the T-slot 34, 36 or key-hole slot 34, 36 of the rings shown in FIGURES l and 4 respectively; or the latter rings may include the hole 86* of the former rings; or the rings may be constructed with a T-slot 34, 36 or a key-hole slot 34', 36 as well as a hole 80.

The parts 26!), 28b preferably are initially constructed so as to be pivotally connected at one end, as indicated in FIGURE 13. A rivet 30b is shown as pivotally connecting one end of part 26b to a corresponding end of part 28b. In this manner, the two parts may be conveniently handled and transported in partially assembled position, and the final assembling thereof around closet pole 22 may be effected simply by swinging the free ends thereof together around the pole to the position thereof shown in FIGURE 14, and suitably fastening such ends in this position as by another rivet 30b.

The present invention will thus be seen to completely and effectively accomplish the objects enumerated hereinabove. It will be realized, however, that various changes and substitutions may be made to the specific embodiments disclosed herein for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention, without departing from these principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hook of the character described comprising: a generally planar ring-like main upper portion having an opening therein and adapted to be slidably mounted on a closet rod or the like with such rod extending through said opening and generally at right angles to the plane of said main portion, a lower portion terminating in a bifurcated and upturned free end to provide a slot for receiving an enlarged end of a clothes hanger stem, said lower portion and said up-turned end being of a smaller transverse dimension than said ring-like main portion, and said free end being disposed below said ring-like main portion.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said opening is generally circular and further wherein said main portion is made of two individual sections joined together.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said hook is of integral or unitary construction and further includes flange means circumscribing said opening in said ringlike main portion, said flange means being of generally cylindrical outline.

4. A clothes hanging device of the character described including a hook and a clothes hanger, said hook comprising: a generally planar ring-like main portion having an opening therein adapted to slidably receive a closet rod or the like with the closet rod disposed generally at right angles to the plane of said main portion, and a lower portion joined to said main portion and having a bifurcated and up-turned free end formed to provide a slot, said lower portion and said free end being of smaller transverse dimension than said ring-like main portion, said free end terminating below said ring-like main portion; and said clothes hanger comprising an upwardly extending stern terminating in an enlarged upper head portion, said stem extending through said slot with said head portion resting on said bifurcated end.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said hifurcated upturned end is formed to provide a T-shaped slot to permit the passage therethrough of an enlarged end of a clothes hanger stem.

6. A hook of the character described comprising: a somewhat flat main portion and adapted to be slidably mounted on a closet rod or the like with such rod extending through said opening and generally at right angles to the plane of said main portion, and a lower bifurcated and up-turned end depending from said main portion to provide a slot for receiving an enlarged end of a clothes hanger stem, said main portion made of two individual sections, one of said sections being generally arcuate and connected at its opposite ends to opposite ends of the other of said sections, the connection at at least one of said ends providing for a pivoting action between said sections.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said one of said sections includes a lug at each end thereof and is made of a stilf but somewhat resilient material, the other of said sections being provided with a generally arcuate portion having a notch at each end thereof for locking engagement to said lugs.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said sections are so constructed that it is necessary to deform the ends of said one section generally radially of said opening to engage said lugs in said notches whereby said lugs will be resiliently retained in said notches against removal.

9. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said connection providing a pivoting action is defined by a rivet engaged to corresponding ends of said sections.

10. A clothes hanging device of the character described including a hook and a clothes hanger, said hook comprising a somewhat fiat main portion having an opening therein adapted to slidably receive a closet rod or the like with the closet rod disposed generally at right angles to the plane of said main portion, said main portion having a bifurcated and upturned lower end formed to provide a slot, said clothes hanger comprising an upwardly extending stem terminating in an enlarged upper head portion, said stem extending through said slot with said head portion resting on said bifurcated end, said main portion being made of two individual sections, one of said sections being generally arcuate and connected at its opposite ends to opposite ends of the other of said sections, the connection at at least one of said ends providing for a pivoting action between said sections.

11. The structure defined in claim 10 wherein said one of said sections includes a lug at each end thereof and is made of a stifi but somewhat resilient material, the other of said sections being provided With a generally arcuate portion having a notch at each end thereof for locking engagement to said lugs.

12. The structure defined in claim 10 wherein said connection providing a pivoting action is defined by a rivet engaged to corresponding ends of said sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Colburn Nov. 1, Wintsch Oct. 6, Smith Mar. 16, Slavin Dec. 17, Beers Mar. 23, Goldberg Oct. 22, Deserty July 24, Swanson Dec. 23, Broder June 2, Tate May 24, Stiles Dec. 16, Frazakerley Feb. 10, Brooke Aug. 27, 

